Entrepreneurship at Stanford University
Stanford sits at the heart of Silicon Valley and has produced more venture-backed startups than any other university. The culture of entrepreneurship runs deep - students, faculty, and alumni regularly launch companies, and the proximity to Sand Hill Road VCs creates a uniquely startup-friendly environment.
Entrepreneurship programs
- Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) - interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education
- Stanford Graduate School of Business - MBA with entrepreneurship concentration
- Stanford d.school (Hasso Plattner Institute of Design) - design thinking methodology
- CS 183 and related startup courses often taught by founders and VCs
- Stanford Biodesign - healthcare innovation program
Incubators and accelerators
- StartX - Stanford-affiliated startup accelerator (no equity taken)
- Stanford Venture Studio - co-working and mentorship for student startups
- Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs - angel investing network
Student clubs and organizations
- Stanford Entrepreneurship Club
- BASES (Business Association of Stanford Entrepreneurial Students)
- Stanford Women in Business
- Stanford Venture Capital Club
Notable alumni founders
- Google (Larry Page, Sergey Brin)
- Netflix (Reed Hastings)
- LinkedIn (Reid Hoffman)
- Instagram (Kevin Systrom)
- Snap (Evan Spiegel)
Local startup ecosystem
Silicon Valley is the global center of startup activity. Palo Alto and the surrounding area have the highest density of VCs, accelerators, and tech companies in the world. Stanford students can access mentorship, funding, and talent more easily than almost anywhere else.
Frequently asked questions
Related universities
Startup resources
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